It’s been some time since the overnight surprise strike of scooters were scattered stealthy about upon sunrise, surrounding Portland sidewalks and storefronts. Now that we’ve had some time to adjust to this new ride-share transit in our amazing road infrastructure, it’s time to assess its purpose how we can use it safely. From road awareness to personal safety, I want to ensure everybody’s well-being on the street. That’s why Cycle Portland is happy to offer useful E-Scooter info and helmet rentals in Portland!

Rules of the Road

In order to be safe, it is important to first understand the rules of the road!

Helmet rentals in Portland

According to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and its list of electric scooter rules, it is important to ALWAYS wear a helmet as required by state law. Lucky for you, Cycle Portland is one of few places in Portland that you can rent a helmet for the day! For just $5 you can use one of our helmets until close at 6PM. Alternatively, we have some of the lowest helmet prices at $20 for both our black nutcase or silver sport style helmets!

Sidewalks

Do you know who is not required to wear a helmet? The foot traveling pedestrian! Stay off the sidewalks. Just like bicycles, sidewalk riding is illegal and dangerous. From what I’ve witnessed, this is one of scariest sights, watching scooter stars weave through the gaps in sidewalk traffic. For the sake of everybody’s safety, take a dip off the sidewalk lip and use the vehicle lane. Keep yourself in bike lanes and greenways or stay to the right in roadways leaving private and public transit room to pass.

Yield

Some citizens also have more rights than scooters out on the road. As a scootist, you schould always yield to people walking, biking or anybody disabled. Yielding may cause you to come to a complete stop, which you should be doing anyway when you approach any stop sign or light! Good for you for cutting down on car emissions, but shame on you if you use that as a privilege to disregard other rules of the road.

Drinking and Scooting

One of those so very disregarded rules is scooter riding while intoxicated. Just like any other vehicle, you are not allowed to operate it while under the influence of intoxicants. Not only will you receive a DUII, but you very well may find yourself missing a couple teeth when you wake up. Which is fine with me. But it’s not fine to hurt an innocent bystander or cause other dangers in our roadways. Be safe and make sure to have a designated driver.

Rider Numbers

However, that designated driver can’t also be on a scooter. Don’t hop on the back of someone’s e-transport and expect to get away with it. The scooters are meant for one rider per scooter. More than one rider causes instability on the roadway and damage to the scooter itself. Then, when parking, make sure to place it on the sidewalk close to the curb.

When push comes to scoot, respect the provided traveling device. It’s a motorized scooter for goodness sake, treat it as if it were your own. We’re living in the future!

Local Opinion

Naturally, some opinions have formed regarding scooter use. The Portland Bureau of Transportation has recorder over 472-thousand scooter trips taken since the vehicles arrived in July. This has provided the city with extensive feedback from both locals and tourists! But where we see the benefits in getting people out of cars, we’ve also absorbed the wave of hatred directed at these two-wheeled wired whirley roadway whippers. Just take a look in the Willamette.

Insight

Keeping tabs on scooter distaste is made easy by counting the number that have been tossed in the north flowing city divider. Scooters In The River provides updates of this statistic as we try to gauge who are the culprits of such heinous crimes. But others might argue that this is the best place for them. Willamette Weekly provided insight from five Portlandians who HATE the scooters. These complaints to city hall clash with the positive outlook that many have as Portland seeks new modes of transportation.

Users of the scooters have reported to the PBOT and the results exemplify stark contrast to the negative public outcry. The survey gives us a look not only at the scooters as a replacement for automobile travel, but also at their safety, purpose of use, and popularity among locals versus visitors! But I couldn’t just sit back and let the results of some internet research give me a definitive answer. So I hit up one of my favorite pubs looking for some useful scoot gossip.

Meandering my way over the Burnside Bridge, passing pedestrians, bikes, scooters and cars (because I’m just that fast), I arrived at the bar. There, I spoke with Chavelie Rodriguez, local bartender at Base Camp Brewing Company and avid… AVID cyclist to get her stance on the rise of the scooters. “I see them everywhere randomly. Although I understand their potential, I find they are unsafe for the casual user. I never see people wearing a helmet and [as a bartender I’ve noticed] many riders are intoxicated.” Casual users do seem to be the most reckless with the new transport vehicle. Does this mean we’ll see more regulations? Maybe a required test before use? Possibly a scooter license??? Who knows, but we need keep people safe. We need to get users those helmets.

What Now?

The scooters are on trial for two more weeks here in Portland before they are taken off the road while the city decides its next move. So make sure to get in those last couple trials so you now where you stand. When the trial is over, swing into the shop for a bicycle rental to enjoy cruising around the streets of Portland. Until then, come into the shop for $5 helmet rentals in Portland! Be safe, be considerate, be weird. Don’t be one of these stereotypical scootists. Be a part of positive change!

What type of bike light should I buy?

A savior. A cost. A helper. A hassle. In a bike-able city like Portland, it is important that we are able to see the road in front of us with enough lighting while responsibly allowing cars to identify us in the dark of night. Where some opt to take the risk as a creature of the night, this lightless lack of illumination loses in the long-run. Between the dangers of the dimly lit roads and the risk of receiving a fine up to $75.00 as a class D driving infraction, it is decidedly better to purchase yourself a bicycle headlight. But… What type of bike light should I buy? We’re here to help you decide the best bike lights for you!

Analyzing the Options

Well, first let’s understand the difference between battery powered versus USB rechargeable powered lights. In terms of cost, battery powered lights will almost always come at a lower price. Battery powered lights tend to emit fewer lumens (lumens will be the main factor when it comes to light options throughout this post). Lumen is the unit used to measure the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source as related to the human eye’s sensitivity to wavelengths. When traveling at night in well lit areas the lower lumens with a battery powered light may suffice. Using batteries also allows the ability to carry spare when you run out of juice should the situation arise.

When opting for USB rechargeable lights, you won’t be able to throw in these spare batteries, but the benefits are quite overwhelming. With USB charge, lights are capable of emitting a much higher amount of lumens. With more lumens, there will be more options of places to safely travel by bicycle. The batteries are also rechargeable. When the time comes, as opposed to needing a new set of batteries, the USB plug will be able to give you the kick you need without the extra charge, paying off the extra cost of selecting USB.

In order to provide insight toward bike light preferences I asked some of my co-workers what their preferences are:

Quoc – Mechanic

“As a commuter traveling to and from Hillsboro, I use a USB rechargeable light with 300 lumens but I plan to upgrade to a 450 lumen soon. 450 is probably best for price point and also gives you more comfort in terms of safety when traveling in different parts of the city. Without cost consideration I’d even say push up toward 750-1000 range. At the end of the day whatever makes you feel safest as an unprotected cyclist on the road. When I’m biking home listening to David Bowie, more lumens means more safety. No need to be a “Rebel, Rebel.”

Shop Choice- Cygolite Streak 450 Headlight

Frederick – Tour Guide

“1000? That’s a lot. Lights on cars only hit 700 on their low beams. You’d certainly be making yourself known out there in the roads. I had a 300 but when it ran out of batteries I just stopped buying new ones. Now I use a small blinker that works just fine for me as I only really bike within the city at night time. I think 250 lumens is about all I’d need as a commuter here, but definitely with a USB rechargeable. It’s nice to have a battery powered set for back up, especially during the winter. During my time in Tanzania, I didn’t have easy access to power outlets. With this luxury in the United States, I find it better to recharge rather than purchasing new batteries on a bi-weekly basis.

Shop Choice- Cygolite Dart 210 Headlight

Jesse (me) – Tour Guide

“Yeah. Definitely USB is the way to go personally. I think if I wasn’t a regular commuter batteries would be perfect for the occasional night time ride. As it is, I like to have options with my lighting as I never know where I’ll end up on my bike. So pushing up toward 800 lumens is totally feasible to me. Additionally, I’ve had 2 headlights stolen off my bike since I’ve moved to Portland. This is due to both my ignorance and my frustration in taking bike lights off and putting them on. For me, it’s important that my light can easily slide on and off so it becomes a simple habit for me to practice.”

For more info on how to avoid bike accessory theft, check out this article.

Shop Choice- Urban 800 Headlight

In summary, as regular commuters with daily access to USB chargers, USB rechargeable lights have more benefits. Your lumen choice, however, comes down to preference. I hope this article can help you answer the question what type of bike light should I buy? Remember, with greater lumens comes greater cost. With greater lumens comes greater possibility.

A touchy subject, but an important one. Chafing hurts cyclists from loved ones to enemies, traveling tourists to downhill mountain racers. But I am here to help you make bike riding hurt less. I recall my first intimate inner thigh irritation experience when I made the switch from underwear to boxers in my angsty and rebellious youth. One hot summer day after hours of play in the sun… it happened. The annoyance, the discomfort, the absolute turmoil was too much for some baby powder (Really dad? You hiked the Sierras and baby powder was the best solution you had).

Fast forward. It’s 2016. Taking long strides and walking like bigfoot to avoid the torturous touching of my inner legs, I’m browsing the walls at a bicycle shop in Portland, OR after a long ride. I can hear the spandex from my pants stretching, exhausted despite not performing their duty. From the corner of my eye, I spot a colorful purple and yellow box. “Chamois Butt’r” it read. I assumed it was a small energy pack similar to the GU energy gels and reached for one.

Finally! You can make bike riding hurt less!

Luckily before oral consumption I decided to read the packaging. There it was. “The Ultimate Skin Lubricant.” Without hesitation, I purchased a small pack and awkwardly found a hidden corner to apply my new discovery. Instantly, I was able to move around comfortably. Wielding a large grin, I skipped around the shop testing the product as others looked at me with confusion and disdain (and a little jealousy). But it didn’t matter. I’d found the solution. I’d found solace. I’d found a way to make bike riding hurt less.

However, this is not the solution for everybody. Some riders have ultra sensitive skin and this does not provide the necessary lubrication. Other riders don’t need as much cream or find other options such as Body Glide more effective. For those traveling upwards of 20 miles, it may be best to carry extra butt’r for more applications along your route. But for a rider, runner and chafer like myself, Chamois Butt’r is a part of my leg rubbing ritual.

Now, biking up hills is treacherous because of the ascent, not the abrasion. Now, I pedal with my legs close together, the non-greasy cream allowing me to focus. I look back at the butt’rless days restricting me from my potential as a cyclist and a person. I look excitedly into my rash free future.